Pioneering Wireless Energy Harvesting Project Kicks Off Under EESN Seed Grant Scheme

The Electrification & Energy Systems Network (EESN) Seed Grant projects have officially launched, and one of the first to hit the ground running is a bold, future-focused initiative led by UTS Rapido, the R&D innovation hub at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), in partnership with Charles Sturt University (CSU) and industry sponsors.  

The project, titled “Cost-Effective Wireless Energy Harvesting from High Voltage Powerlines,” is developing breakthrough technology that could transform how remote telecommunications infrastructure is powered. By wirelessly harvesting energy from high-voltage powerlines, the team aims to convert existing grid infrastructure into a source of clean, reliable power—particularly for hard-to-reach locations where diesel generators or solar panels are currently the norm.

“By kicking off in early August, we’ve taken the first step toward field-ready prototypes,” said Hervé Harvard, Executive Director of UTS Rapido. “With industry insights, EESN backing, close collaboration with Professor Dylan Lu’s team from the UTS School of Electrical and Data Engineering, and field-trial support from Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark, we’re aiming to engineer a safe, robust and cost-effective way to harvest energy from high-voltage powerlines—to hopefully enhance remote telecommunications capabilities and advancing NSW’s decarbonisation targets.” 

A Collaborative Effort with Real-World Impact 

The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of engineers, researchers, and industry experts. UTS Rapido, known for its industry-accessible R&D expertise, including mechatronic and applied research capabilities, is leading the technical development, with CSU contributing deep expertise in energy systems. Field trials will be conducted at Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark, ensuring the technology is tested in real-world rural and regional conditions.

Why It Matters 

One potential use case involves powering remote telecommunications towers, which are vital for connectivity across regional and remote Australia. Traditionally, these towers rely on diesel generators—an option that is expensive, carbon-intensive, and difficult to maintain. While solar panels offer a cleaner alternative, they can be unreliable in shaded or weather-affected environments. This project offers a third path—leveraging the proximity of transmission lines to deliver consistent, renewable energy without the need for new generation infrastructure. 

If successful, the technology could be deployed across Australia’s grid in the future, potentially supporting not only telecommunications but also other remote sensing and monitoring applications critical to agriculture, emergency services, and environmental management. 

This initiative is one of several funded under the EESN Seed Grant Scheme, a NSW Government funded program designed to accelerate early-stage innovations in electrification and energy systems. The scheme supports projects that align with the state’s clean energy transition goals, particularly those that can deliver scalable, practical solutions to pressing energy challenges. 

Learn more about the project here.

🔗 About EESN

The Electrification & Energy Systems Network (EESN) is part of the NSW Decarb Hub. We bring together researchers, industry, and policymakers to accelerate the transition to a decarbonised energy future. Through cutting-edge research, strategic collaboration, commercialisation, and electrification, EESN drives energy innovation across New South Wales and beyond.

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We’re always keen to connect with anyone working across electrification, energy systems, and decarbonisation — whether you’re advancing research, developing solutions, shaping policy, driving business innovation, or navigating regulatory frameworks.

We also recognise that the energy transition is as much a social and institutional transformation as it is a technical one. If you’re working at the intersection of energy, society, policy, or markets — we’d love to hear from you.